The show opened with film of a steam train accompanied by the programme's theme song, played and sung by the Bob Cort Skiffle Group, which began with the words "The Six-Five Special's comin' down the line, The Six-Five Special's right on time ..." BBC executives originally preferred a magazine format, but Good wanted a show with music and much movement.

[1] Good joined the ITV company ABC to create Oh Boy!, which featured non-stop music and lost the public-service-inspired elements as part of its more frenzied pace, trouncing Six-Five Special in the ratings.

Presented by Josephine Douglas, Pete Murray and ex-boxer Freddie Mills the show featured performances by The John Barry Seven, Cab Kaye, The Five Dallas Boys, The Vernons Girls, Adam Faith and Kerry Martin, joined by a different "local skiffle group" in each venue.

[3] Among the artists on the show were Petula Clark, Jim Dale, Johnny Dankworth, Terry Dene, Lonnie Donegan, Russ Hamilton, Cleo Laine, Joan Regan, Finlay Currie, boxer Freddie Mills,[4] Wee Willie Harris, Jimmy Lloyd, Marty Wilde, the Dallas Boys and Tommy Steele.

Comedy performers included Trevor Peacock, who was also a script writer for the show, Spike Milligan and Mike and Bernie Winters.